Bipolar Disorder Support Group

Bipolar disorder is not just a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders marked by periods of abnormally high energy and euphoria, often accompanied by bouts of clinical depression. This is the place to talk about your experience with bipolar disorder, learn from others' experiences, and find support.

Burning out my Friends

I guess I'm scared. I cycled last week for three days for the first time in over a year. Not too bad really, in and out of depression and hyperness, not even hypomania. Sunday and Monday and yesterday, I crashed. I've been working full time for 5 months for the 1st time in 6 years in a really stressful, dysfunctional job - as a clinician in a community mental health clinic. My quality of life has really taken a dive. I really wanted to help others -- so many caregiver professionals have helped me. I wanted to kind of pay it foward. But I'm aware that in the last several mo, I've become pretty cynical and negative. I feel like my light as a person is dimming. Not suicidal - just exhausted. I'm looking for a new job - trying w/ the help of a good shrink to get my meds back on track after about a month and half of depression. I feel boring and relentless, relentlessly a one topic person: work. Have just decided to start going to a bipolar support group. I guesss i thought that working would be a dream come true but it's been more of a nightmare. A toxic work system. I'm in burn out here and I'm worried that I'm burning out my friends. I think my other question is when is enough enough? Am I really helping anyone by endangering my health? Any advice or empathy would be so appreciated. Thanks.

I'm facing the same emotions, expect I'm a stay at home mom. So quitting for me is not really an option. I feel like crap all the time and all I ever do is yell at the kids. I need a break. So I know how you feel. You need to look out for yourself, or you will be no good to anybody else. If you are in a toxic environment, then get out. It not good for you or the people you are trying to help. I will be praying for you.

i can't really say anything too encouraging, i too have burned my bridges with &quot;friends&quot; that's why i really only have one that i can count on. but she is also going through a rough time in her life, with a lot of drama, and it's something i can't really deal with right now, so i even have a hard time talking to her. i have a hard time trusting people or even liking them for that matter. people here in this small town like to gossip and gt into everyones buisness. i don't like other peoples drama either. i have enough of my own. my only suggestion is to take care of u, come here for support, and make sure u are taking the meds u are on and talk to your doctors. take care. daisy

I did the same thing, I stayed in there for 2 years (mental health feild) as Case manager, my mind was shot by the time I crawled out of that, but the agency I worked for was very dysfunctional, in when in came to a question of what's good for the client may not be good for business, business was always expected to win out. I couldn't get anything accomplished for having to pacify clients to keep thier business.

It's admirable for you to help others, to 'pay it forward' as you say. I wonder if that line of work is too stressful, though? It's very brave and marks your wonderful character that you would want to help. I think that it eventually boils down to whether or not you can handle your situation and still help others in theirs. I believe that you can burn yourself out, so be careful. If you don't feel like you can do it, don't rain down bad feelings about yourself, you did try and I'm sure you gave your best effort. And if your friends are worth having around, they will be supportive and there to listen.

I hope this doesn't sound cookie cutter, although looking back at it, it looks terribly so...

A friend sent this to me..As far as I can see, grief will never truly end.It may become softer overtime, more gentleand some days will feel sharp.But grief will last as long as Love does - ForeverIt's simply the way the absence of your loved onemanifests in your heart. A deep longing accompaniedby the deepest Love some days. The heavy fog mayreturn and the next day, it may recede.Once again, it's...

theatre and I are there already. I'm having a very berry tea with crackers, cheese and cherry tomatoes and she's having a joint with some beer and we're both on really comfy recliners on thick pile carpet. we need some help with the decor if anyone is around??

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